Final Push Nevada
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z9EH4WzjLII&feature=player_embedded] Harry Reid's final ad (maybe according to Plum Line) isn't about Harry Reid at all, but rather is all about Sharron Angle's world. Of the Reid ads I've seen this one is the most effective. They're still cramming a lot in there, and the prisoner massage stuff is a little out of the blue, but it's really the first ad from Reid that really uses emotion to drive the message rather than logic. This ad doesn't tell you how to feel (you should be scared of crazy Sharron Angle), it just presents the elements of the argument to the viewer which I believe is a better/stronger way to go. It leaves room for viewers to fill in the last step for themselves.
Don't know if the design elements work (the colorized images and the grid -- I think it's a grid), but the ad works, not a great, but a good ending salvo.
And it's much better than what the DSCC put up on Reid's behalf. First there was this one:
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=o_HaS6fhfOI&feature=player_embedded]
The good news: I think it's smart to face up to voter's anger, that's the only reason someone like Angle is this close to becoming a US Senator. I would have liked to see more ads that acknowledge that fact, reflect it back to voters. The bad news, I find it insulting when the narrator says, "Imagine how angry you'll be when Sharron Angle.." and "Work that anger out in the ring cause voting for Sharron Angle is only going to hurt yourself." Just as understanding as the opening language was, that language is patronizing and out of touch.
I find the kick boxing distracting, and I can't actually take in the information they're trying to present. Points for trying don't count for much in politics, I just think they got it wrong here, the ad ultimately feels tone deaf.
[youtube=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8Nl_iUdp1Sw&feature=player_embedded]
The followup to kickboxer, references the same line at the top and has a better transition (not as insulting is better). This ad almost feels like an acknowledgement that the first one was a mistake. It's defiantly better, but suffer from the same problem as most of the anti-Angle ads do, the ad feels jammed packed even though they're only talking about jobs and social security. Maybe it's the design of the ad, but I find it hard to focus on one thing, I had to watch it three times just to write this post (it felt like seven issues in there).
Knowing that voters are angry, the ads are trying to make the race about Angle, will that be enough on election day to keep Angle from 50%?